Networking Opportunity for Owen Sound and area Business

September 25, 2007

This year’s annual Bridges to Better Business Event is coming up quick. The event will be held on Thursday October 4th, 2007 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Days Inn in Owen Sound. The event includes a business luncheon, a wisdom exchange (basically a guided round table discussion with other local entrepreneurs and business owners), a panel discussion with a question period, and numerous other networking opportunities.

There is also a Trade Show as part of the event. I took part in last year’s trade show and will be back with a booth again this year. In fact I am rally looking forward to the trade show this year as the quiver of products and services offered by rjgcreative (that’s the business name way of saying me) has grown significantly. Last year I was selling ideas and the response from fellow business owners was quite positive. The major difference this year however is that many of those ideas have grown in to extremely functional and sought after business tools. Consider this a personal invite to join me at the event and to see how rjgcreative can help grow your business.

The last day for registration for this years event is Monday October 1st, the cost is only $30 per person and you can register by calling the Business Enterprise Centre @ 519 371 3232

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Written by Ryan · Filed Under Business, The Area, Events, theOwen

Garth Turner to host Owen Sound Town Hall meeting

September 24, 2007

We received the following press release earlier in this week from Garth Turner, the Federal (~~conservative~~, ~~independent~~, liberal MP for the west GTA riding of Halton.

MP wants voter input on federal issues – Income trusts, economy, real estate, Afghanistan, the environment

Voters, taxpayers and constituents in the Owen Sound region will get a rare chance on Thursday September27th to send a message directly to Parliament when outspoken MP Garth Turner hosts a public Town Hall meeting locally. While residents are free to raise any topic they wish, the Conservative government’s decisions to tax income trusts, and raise personal income tax – breaking specific promises by Prime Minister Stephen Harper – are likely to spark a hot debate.

The income trust move is believed to have cost more than two million investors, most of them seniors, more than $20 billion in lost retirement savings. That is the greatest private loss ever to result directly from one government action, and came as a shock to voters after Mr. Harper promised repeatedly in the last election campaign that he would never impose such a tax.

Turner says many homeowners and investors are also concerned abut the real estate meltdown in the United States, and the potential for that to affect people here. He will address those concerns in a presentation, “What every Homeowner and Investors must know.”

MP Turner, ousted by Stephen Harper last fall for his opposition to several Conservative positions, has been a champion of jilted investors, and will bring an action plan to the meeting for those anxious to know what their alternatives are. Turner joined the federal Liberal caucus in February, after sitting as an Independent member of Parliament for four months, for the west GTA riding of Halton.

“I have heard from many people in Ottawa, and across the country, very unhappy that their Conservative MPs, like Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound’s Larry Miller, have refused to call such a meeting,” Turner says. “They seem only too happy to hide in Ottawa these days where Mr. Harper has rewarded severely muzzled his caucus and taken actions which seriously call into question his stated goal of having an open and accountable government.”

Turner says Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Harper need to explain to Ottawa residents not only why income trusts were taxed, but also why so many Canadian companies have been purchased as a result recently by foreign firms. Garth Turner, a noted personal finance author before going to Parliament, says he is also concerned by the government’s move to raise income tax and bring in an inflationary budget with record spending which has increased loan and mortgage rates later this year. He said that is endangering the economy, as the United States falls into recession.

Attendance at the Owen Sound meeting is free, and all are welcome to attend. Here are the details:

Thursday, September 27, 7 pm

Owen Sound Legion

1450 2nd Avenue

Owen Sound, Ontario.

A social ‘meet-&-greet’ event will precede the meeting, in the same location.

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Written by Ryan · Filed Under Web Tools, The Area, Events, Community, Politics, theOwen

It’s National Forest Week

September 24, 2007

September 23-29 is National Forest Week and this years focus is on Urban Forests. An annual affair, National Forest Week has been happening now for 40 years although it roots go even furhter back.

Established circa 1920 as Forest Fire Prevention Week, the intention was to encourage greater public awareness towards Canada’s forests. At the time, there was no apparent shortage of trees for industrial expansion – the greatest threat came from forest fires, due mainly to human causes.

Since then National Forest Week, as it was renamed in 1967, has evolved to encompass the many and varied human and environmental aspects of Canada’s forest resources – past, present and future.

Over the past 80 years Canadians have demonstrated a much deeper understanding of the environmental and human benefits of forests, not to mention the positive and negative economics of Canada’s forest resources. The focus this year on Urban forests is no doubt a response to our growing awareness of that the value of our forests is far greater than simply the dollar/board foot measure that is often used to value “forest resources”.

So how do we value a tree is we don’t cut it down?

Trees in urban areas trap air pollutants and particulates – by one estimate, a large, healthy tree can absorb as many as 7,000 dust particles per litre of air. The same tree can absorb 75 per cent of the carbon dioxide generated by the average car and provide a day’s oxygen for up to four people. A valuable benefit of forest but it’s tough to put a dollar figure on this service. In most cases this is the major distinguishing factor. We have traditionally valued forests as products. Taking a more holistic look at our ecosystem we can see that far greater value exists in our forests for the varied services they provide.

Trees buffer noise and provide wildlife habitat. Their shade cool cities in summer, reduce wind and aid transpiration. During times of heavy rainfall, they keep excessive water from overwhelming storm drains and their roots prevent erosion.

Property values are higher in well-treed neighbourhoods. By protecting the streets from harmful ultraviolet rays, trees help city street asphalt last 10 to 15 years longer without repairs. And finally, trees improve the look of any city, giving urban dwellers a visual break from concrete and glass. They have even been proved to help hospital patients recover from illness more quickly, thus reducing health care costs.

So what is the take away message from all this? It would be a benefit to all if we each took some time over the course of the next week to consider the value of forests in our lives.

How to Participate in National Forest Week
- arrange a tree planting: www.treecanada.ca
- take a walk in woods nearby and get to know your forest
- care for a newly planted or neglected tree, and study its species
- identify all the things at home or school that are made of wood
- learn about organizations that demonstrate sustainable forest management
- tour a forest sector industry or processing site
- learn about the prevention of forest fires
- contact a provincial forestry association for teaching materials

For more on Forest Resources and National Forestry Week check out the Canadian Forestry Association website

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Written by Ryan · Filed Under Conservation, Community, The Environment

Chuck Baker @ the Knox Accoustic Cafe

September 21, 2007

Chuck Baker (with special guest, Pete Arbour) Live in Concert

Saturday - September 22, 2007 - 8:00 PM, doors open @ 7:30pm

Tickets: $10 in advance or $12 at the door

Advance tickets now on sale at:

Fromager Music 221 8th St. East Owen Sound, Ont (1-800-448-2420)
or contact Knox at 519-376-4684 - eMail acousticcafe@knoxowensound.ca

Chuck Baker’s original music fractures folk, wrestles rock, brushes the blues and fights with funk. His performances are engaging and infectious and combine his percussive acoustic guitar style with clever, articulate vocals.

To really appreciate Chuck Baker is to see him play live. Chuck has opened for a long list of Canadian treasures including The Rheostatics, Catherine Wheatley, Wendell Ferguson, Craig Cardiff, The Silver Hearts, David Francey and Fred Eaglesmith.

Chuck Baker’s music has been described as many things, but for Baker it’s just being honest that counts. Baker received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Windsor , his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Waterloo and his Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario . He currently is Head of Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts and Music at Stayner Collegiate Institute in Stayner Ontario .

Visit Chuck Baker on line @ www.chuckbaker.ca

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Written by Ryan · Filed Under Concerts, Music, Events, theOwen

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